There are many ways to stay warm when the cold weather kicks in, most of which do not require you to break the bank. Keeping you, your family and your home warm is essential especially when the temperatures are freezing. If you are wondering which heating system you should install during your next home remodel or when building a house, here are some of the methods you can consider.


1. Solar heating

Many people are of the idea that solar heating is for green homes with huge budgets, which is not the case. Solar heating systems are becoming popular over time because of their low maintenance and energy costs. Although the initial capital might be on the higher side, the return on investment is between three and six years.

Solar heating utilizes heat from the sun rather than natural gas, oil or electricity. All you need is to install solar collector panels on the exterior of the home and enjoy using the renewable energy source. Doing so will help reduce the over-reliance on imported fuel sources and the fluctuations in fuel prices. There will be less pollution too.


2. Wood Stoves

Wood stoves can be used to supplement heat from the fireplace gas. You can also use them to heat the entire house. Apart from being renewable, wood is often less costly than other heat sources like electricity and oil. Before installing a wood stove, you should take some time to follow the regulations of the environmental controlling agency, fire codes and local building policies. You may also put inserts into the contemporary fireplaces.

3. Radiant floor heat

Although it is a relatively new technology, many homeowners are embracing it because of the potential energy savings. The heating machinery is placed under the floor or in the ceiling panels. It means that there will not be any radiators or registers to interfere with traffic flow or furniture arrangements in the building. The use of radiant floor heating is energy efficient than most of the other methods because it eliminates the loss of power via the ductwork.


Many homeowners mistakenly believe that radiant heating systems can only be installed when constructing a house. On the contrary, some innovations make it possible to install the systems in existing homes. There are two types of these systems. One is the hydronic radiant system that uses hot water inside the tubing, and the other is the electric radiant system that utilizes cables.

4. Biomass boilers

A biomass boiler is an eco-heating option that is ideal if you want to minimize your carbon dioxide emissions. The boilers burn logs, pellets and wood chips that can be used to boil water and operate the central heating. You can install it alongside your fireplace gas system.

5. Hybrid furnaces

If you live in an area with a mild climate, a hybrid heating system is ideal. They use electricity as the primary heating source and fireplace gas as the secondary heating source. The two switch depending on the demand. Most hybrid systems feature a thermostat that activates the secondary source if the temperature falls below the standard. They also have an outdoor sensor to detect temperature changes. Considering that natural gas is cheaper than electricity, hybrid heaters can be cheaper to operate than if the system was an all-electricity operated device.


6. Geothermal heating

Geothermal heaters are quieter than the traditional source heat pumps. They also do not rely on the temperature of the outside air. Considering that they require minimal maintenance and exhibit prolonged lifespan, they are a deal to fall for. The heating systems use the temperature beneath the ground, which is relatively constant a few meters below the surface.

The geothermal heat pumps get energy to operate from the earth without taking the outside air temperature into account. The process ensures that the homeowner can save on heating costs. The only challenge is that the initial installation cost is a little on the higher side.

Heating your home during winter can be quite the challenge, both on your budget and comfort. It gets worse if you have an inefficient heating system. If you are wondering how to solve this issue, you ought to consider these six alternative methods.